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First Transit wins 3 paratransit contracts

First Transit Inc. received three new contracts to provide paratransit in two Florida cities and one California city.

In San Mateo, Calif., the County Transit District’s board of directors approved a five-year base contract with five, one-year options, to provide its Redi-Wheels paratransit service.

First Transit has also begun providing paratransit services for Broward County, Fla. The contract went into effect Jan. 1, 2015 and has a base period of five years.

Broward County Transportation cites its Paratransit Transportation Options, also known as TOPS, as one of its most valuable programs. In accordance with the contract, First Transit now operates a fleet of 69 propane-fueled vehicles, which maintain the same operating hours as the county’s fixed-route bus service.

The company will also soon begin providing services for Palm Tran Connection, the paratransit services in Palm Beach County, Fla. This contract, which will go into effect Feb. 1, 2015, has a base period of seven years.

Palm Tran Connection serves some of those most in need in Palm Beach County. It is a by-appointment, door-to-door public transit system that ensures residents without other transportation means are able to get safely and efficiently to destinations such as doctors’ appointments, work, school and grocery stores.

First Transit will be operating 79 vehicles for this service, 25 of which are propane-fueled.